DRUGS PLAN WELCOMED

Bradford drug workers have welcomed the publication of a new ten-year
drugs strategy which details how the Government plans to tackle drugs use.

The plan aims to cut drug related crime and reduce the harm that
drugs cause to individuals, families and whole communities.

Bradford Safer Communities Partnership, a body which takes a lead on
driving forward improvements across the district and takes a targeted
approach to tackling crime, disorder and its causes, contributed to
the plan after organising a consultation event and feeding the
results back to the Government.

Bradford grandparents who care for their grandchildren full-time due
to their child's drugs use also met with Government ministers back in
2006 to lobby for an increase in their entitlement to financial and
practical support.

The grandparents spoke to the Telegraph & Argus about their
frustration about the lack of help and their struggle to cope.

It appears ministers took note as the new strategy will make it
easier for the older generation to win care orders and receive cash
handouts to care for their grandchildren.

Liz Barry, joint commissioning manager for substance misuse at
Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust, said: "We welcome
the new strategy, in particular the greater focus it places on the
needs of carers and families, which has also been one of our key
improvement areas in Bradford over the last year.

"We also welcome increasing emphasis placed on treatment outcomes,
assisting individuals to move out of treatment and make positive
progress both personally and within the community.

"One of our strengths of the service we provide in Bradford is
getting drug users into treatment really quickly, as we recognise
that it is crucial to give help and support as soon as it is being sought.

"Another is keeping drug users in treatment for at least 12 weeks, as
this is more likely to lead to a successful outcome in the long term."